Originally published here. Written for Amplifying Human Rights Through Music: A Tribute to the UDHR (Asian Village Zine #4).
Nitithorn “Ae Nitikul” Thongthirakul (with Ya Pason) at the AMP3 Solidarity Concert at the Witch House in Taipei. 11 November 2023. Photo by Joseph Purugganan.
Jess Santiago plays one of his songs at a gathering of artists-activists in Dhaka, Bangladesh. February 2024. Photo by Joseph Purugganan.
Ambassador Marielle Geraedts of the Netherlands Embassy in the Philippines awards the 2024 Embassy Tulip Award for Human Rights to Lilak, Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights. Photo by Joseph Purugganan.
There was a celebratory tone to this year’s commemoration of international human rights day, as three of Focus’ allies– musicians Nitithorn Thongthirakul from Thailand, and Jesus Manuel Santiago from the Philippines, and the organization Lilak, Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights were all honored for their work to promote and defend human rights.
Jess “Koyang” Santiago, and Nitithorn “Ae Nitikul” Thongthirakul, both members of the Asian Music for People’s’ Peace and Progress were recognized for their work in promoting and defending human rights through their music.
The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand recognized Ae’s contribution in the promotion and defense of economic, social and cultural rights.
Ae has produced 3 albums promoting human rights: 1) “Bua La” in 2007, Who Wants to Trade, Who Wants to Trade (songs against human trafficking) 2) “Human Rights: Rights and Breath | Human Rights: Life and Breath” in 2008 and 3) “Want to See You Beautifully Age” in 2009, the 30th anniversary of the Children’s Foundation. He has composed, performed and produced songs and has supported campaigns dealing with issues such as human trafficking, migrants rights, housing rights, and respect for ethnic diversity among others. Ae has been a long time environmental activist as well with songs like “Breath of the Forest” for the Save the Birds project of Thai PBS, and “Pleun Lam Khong” which became the anthem of the campaign against the construction of dams on the Mekong River. Through his music Ae has also paid tribute to fellow human rights defenders “Mi Ru Jop” to honor Phuyai Prajop Naowaopas, and “Teacher Phaibun Wattanasiritam”.
Jesus Manuel Santiago or Koyang Jess is one of the recipients of the “pagkilala at pagpupugay” (recognition and salute) as a human rights defender from the broad human rights community in the Philippines for “a life dedicated to the steadfast defense and promotion of human rights”.
Koyang Jess, acknowledged as a pillar of people’s music in the Philippines, has written many songs that are considered modern masterpieces; anthems for a generation of activists awakened during the dark days of Martial Law. Songs like Halina, Huling Balita (Last News), Martsa ng Bayan (March of the Nation), the lullaby Meme Na (Sleep Now) illuminated and inspired the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship. In the post-EDSA years, his songs continued to challenge the status quo, in subtle and poetic ways, always from the vantage point of the oppressed and marginalized.
Lilak, Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights, was the recipient of the 2024 Embassy Tulip Award. “The Human Rights Tulip is an award given by the Dutch government to individuals and organizations making exceptional contributions to human rights. The Embassy Tulip, a local version introduced in 2019, celebrates the work of local defenders and aims to raise their visibility, underlining the importance of their efforts in protecting human rights.”
The Dutch Embassy cited Lilak’s “tireless work in empowering Indigenous women and advocating for their communities in the Philippines Lilak’s work has been essential in breaking down the barriers faced by Indigenous women, amplifying their voices, and advocating for their rights. By empowering women and providing them with the tools to protect their rights.”
In accepting the award, Judy Pasimio, Coordinator of Lilak recalled the formation of their organization and how their collective aspirations continue to propel their work: “In LILAK, our actions are driven by the need to have indigenous women voices be heard, be part of the actions of the social movements for transformative changes, so that they will be part of the creation of a society that recognizes them, respect and protect their rights, as indigenous and as women.”
Pasimio also expressed gratitude for the recognition especially in these very challenging times. “There are a lot of organizations, communities who need to be recognized for the critical work that they do. And I hope that more recognition will be handed out by different institutions such as this by the Dutch Embassy.”
In March 1999, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
“The Declaration reaffirms rights that are instrumental to the defense of human rights, including, inter alia, freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to gain access to information, to provide legal aid and to develop and discuss new ideas in the area of human rights.” (Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights)
Human rights defenders across Asia continue to face huge challenges in advancing their work- from censorships and crackdowns on freedom of assembly and expression to criminalization of rights struggles particularly for indigenous, land rights and environmental rights defenders. HRD’s are at the frontlines of efforts to push back against repressive laws like the Anti-Terror Law in the Philippines and the enactment of human rights defenders protection laws and policies at the local and national levels. #
